Docu Film Premieres at Redwood City
By Federico A. Espiritu
The documentary film titled 11,103 delving into the Marcos martial law human rights violence survivors’ stories commenced its USA premiere screening at the Cañada College Flexible Theater in Redwood City last September 17, 2022. The film event was timed for the 50th anniversary of the declaration of martial law in the Philippines.
11,103 features aging witnesses’ narratives of state-sponsored occurrences during the Martial Law regime of Ferdinand Marcos which is best remembered for its human rights abuses. The film presented personal accounts of several of the 11,103 Filipinos who were jailed, tortured, raped, and killed while communities were massacred in the recurring crossfire between state forces, Maoist rebels, and Muslim separatists for the period 1972-1986.
In 2013, the Philippine government passed a landmark law that officially recognized these atrocities. Republic Act 10368 mandated compensation for the victims funded by the illegally acquired wealth of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos stashed in their Swiss Bank accounts. Exactly, 11,103 victims processed by the Human Rights Victims Claims Board were recognized and provided reparations compensation as the law was fleshed out.
The documentary film co-directed by Jeanette Ifurung and Mike Alcarazen, produced by Kara Magsanoc Alikpala, and the Storytellers International also premiered in the Philippines at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani last September 21 in Quezon City.
Other slated USA screenings happened on September 21 at the Paul Robeson Theater, The People’s Forum, 320 West 37th Street in New York. The film was also shown at the Glenn Hubert Library, Florida International University-Biscayne Campus, 3000 NE 161st St. in North Miami, Florida on September 24.
FilAm multi-sectoral leaders and personalities intently watch the 11,103-documentary film at Cañada College. (Photo by Feddie A. Espiritu)
The 11,103 USA premiere screenings were part of the Active Vista Human Rights Festival and are co-presented by AF3IRM National, Filipino Advocates for Justice, and FIU Libraries.